September open meeting at Kielder Water Sailing Club

Robbie Langford and James Nohl win the handicap fleet in the September open meeting.at Kielder Water © Adrian Langford

Osprey Scottish and Northern Championships © Adrian Langford

Andrew Hewett wins the Laser fleet in the September open meeting.at Kielder Water © Adrian Langford

Kielder Water Sailing Club hosted their September Open meeting on 12th and 13th September. The Ospreys, or at least those who could free themselves up on the Friday, benefited from a day of excellent training beforehand by Tim Rush to get themselves in the mood for racing.

Saturday was wet and gusty. The threatened F6-8 did not materialise, but the easterly winds during the first part of the day swung through around 160 degrees towards the end of the first race, giving some interesting views of boats approaching each other from opposite ends of the course, under spinnaker in both directions, and causing Peter Hawkin, the Race Officer, to have to reset his course in between races to face the other way.

Three fleets raced on Saturday: Ospreys, Lasers and a handicap fleet. The Ospreys and Lasers sailed a triangle-sausage course, with some fine three-sail reaches. The handicap fleet, a mixed bunch including a Tempest, an Optimist and various sizes in between, raced a simple triangle.

On the Sunday the winds were lighter and (mainly) southerly, and the sun finally put in an appearance. Nice cruising weather, perhaps frustrating at times for the racers. Most of the Lasers had gone home but those who were left joined the handicap fleet for the fourth and fifth races of the weekend.

There was a lot of close racing among the Ospreys, with Rob Shaw and Ian Little (KWSC) winning the first two races, while Viola and Michael Scott (KWSC), having taken second in the first two, won the third, and indeed they never slipped below second place all weekend, leaving them the deserving holders of the Scottish and Northerns title. Rob and Ian came second overall, while Alec Mamwell and Jonathan Osgood (Coniston) took third place.

The Laser Grand Prix, held on the Saturday, was also very closely fought, with 11 boats on the water. Andrew Hewett (St Mary's Loch) took first place on countback ahead of Richard Benson (Pennine), who was closely followed by Tim Luke (Killington) in third.

The handicap fleet saw some excellent racing, with Robbie Langford and James Nohl (KWSC) showing consistent good form in their Laser 3000, coming first or second in every race to take first overall. Ben Russell (KWSC) managed to win the first race in his Optimist; he came fourth overall and would no doubt have placed even higher... had he not abandoned the Oppi on the Sunday to helm a 420 crewed by Luke Stewart, thus effectively racing against himself in the series.

James Harrison and Chris Mitchell (Solway YC) put in an excellent performance in their Tempest, taking a well-deserved second place, and Rosie and Graham Thumwood (KWSC) came a very creditable third overall in their Miracle.

Many thanks as always to the Race Officer, his helpers, the patrol boats, the galley and bar staff, and of course all those who took part in the racing. It was a great weekend.

The Ospreys treated this event as their Scottish and Northern Championships and that link contains the full results.

Laser Results:

1st Andrew Hewett, St Mary's Loch SC
2nd Richard Benson, Pennine SC
3rd Tim Luke, Killington SC
4th Stephen Gill, Berwick-on-Tweed
5th Toby Hubbard, Killing SC
6th Steve Jarvis, KWSC
7th Finn Mitchell, Annandale SC
8th Archie Dodd, KWSC
9th Ian Malcolm, St Mary's Loch SC
10th Peter Caunt, St Mary's Loch SC
11th Paul Scott, Berwick SC

Handicap & Junior Results: